Hi ,

I am thinking of bringing a bike from UK to Basel but not sure how much duty would apply. I intend to buy a bike for roughly £1600 . Can someone tell me how much duty is payable on that or how I can reduce the duty ? Where can I get the right information for this ?

Thanks

If you bring it with your personal belongings it will be tax free. If not 8% VAT is payable.

They sell bikes here, and in France, and in Germany. It might be cheaper and easier than importing from UK.

You can buy very good second hand bikes on www.ricardo.ch which is a secure Swiss E-Bay auction house.

http://www.ricardo.ch/kaufen/sports/radsport/l/cn41950/

http://www.ricardo.ch/kaufen/sports/...los/l/cn43884/

http://www.ricardo.ch/kaufen/sports/...kes/l/cn43882/

http://www.ricardo.ch/kaufen/sports/...los/l/cn43886/

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If you have the option of taking a bike over as removal goods, then go for it. And even if you do not, it would still be worth while if you are going across and can bring it back yourself.

I brought my mike from the UK when moving here, and looking at the bike prices here in CH, I'm glad i did. I payd £450 for my hard tail mountain bike in the UK. Granted this was a very good campaign offer at Evans Cycles which saved me a few hundred pounds when i bought it, but looking at equivalent bikes from Scott or Gary Fisher here in CH the prices range from CHF 1600 to 2100, so there is still a significant difference in prices even whe adding the 8% VAT.

No idea what the prices in FR are like, but DE is more in line with the UK and worth a look if removal goods is not an option.